Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “prediction models”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 73 records · Page 4

Model predictive combustion control of a Gasoline Compression Ignition engine

Gasoline Compression Ignition is a novel combustion concept that derives its superiority from the high compression ratio of a compression ignition engine as well as the properties of gasoline fuel, such as longer ignition delay and higher volatility compared to diesel. Here, this combustion concept was experimentally tested on a 12.4L Class 8 truck engine. Based on these experimental data, prior efforts by the authors focused on the development of an engine model for a heavy-duty engine operating on a low-reactivity fuel. This engine model was leveraged within this study to investigate a combustion control strategy at different engine conditions and injection methods and was augmented to incorporate cycle-to-cycle combustion variations. State estimation is performed by means of a Kalman filter which feeds into a model predictive controller. The model predictive controller chooses control actions based on a predefined cost function under consideration of bounds reflecting physical constraints. The engine model was utilized to establish a state-space model that serves the Kalman filter and model predictive controller for estimation and prediction. A comparative study investigating control actions and engine behavior was performed with and without limiting in-cylinder peak pressure as well as combustion noise, which is of particular interest for early pilot injection strategies. In addition, the proposed control architecture was investigated at two different levels of cycle-to-cycle variations and compared to the performance of a control structure with input disturbance rejection. For increased cycle-to-cycle variations, disturbance estimation reduces state fluctuations and control effort. In general, this investigation highlights control aspects specific to a compression-ignited combustion regime with low-reactivity fuel. The control algorithm is able to maintain the desired references for brake mean effective pressure and combustion phasing while controlling peak in-cylinder pressure and combustion noise.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Wake Vortex Prediction Models for Decay and Transport Within Stratified Environments

This paper proposes two simple models to predict vortex transport and decay. The models are determined empirically from results of three-dimensional large eddy simulations, and are applicable to wake vortices out of ground effect and not subjected to environmental winds. The results, from the large eddy simulations assume a range of ambient turbulence and stratification levels. The models and the results from the large eddy simulations support the hypothesis that the decay of the vortex hazard is decoupled from its change in descent rate.

Switzer, George F.↗

Thermal barrier coating life prediction model development, phase 2

The objective of this program was to generate a life prediction model for electron-beam-physical vapor deposited (EB-PVD) zirconia thermal barrier coating (TBC) on gas turbine engine components. Specific activities involved in development of the EB-PVD life prediction model included measurement of EB-PVD ceramic physical and mechanical properties and adherence strength, measurement of the thermally grown oxide (TGO) growth kinetics, generation of quantitative cyclic thermal spallation life data, and development of a spallation life prediction model. Life data useful for model development was obtained by exposing instrumented, EB-PVD ceramic coated cylindrical specimens in a jet fueled burner rig. Monotonic compression and tensile mechanical tests and physical property tests were conducted to obtain the EB-PVD ceramic behavior required for burner rig specimen analysis. As part of that effort, a nonlinear constitutive model was developed for the EB-PVD ceramic. Spallation failure of the EB-PVD TBC system consistently occurred at the TGO-metal interface. Calculated out-of-plane stresses were a small fraction of that required to statically fail the TGO. Thus, EB-PVD spallation was attributed to the interfacial cracking caused by in-plane TGO strains. Since TGO mechanical properties were not measured in this program, calculation of the burner rig specimen TGO in-plane strains was performed by using alumina properties. A life model based on maximum in-plane TGO tensile mechanical strain and TGO thickness correlated the burner rig specimen EB-PVD ceramic spallation lives within a factor of about plus or minus 2X.

Meier, Susan Manning↗

Verification by Remote Sensing of an Oil Slick Movement Prediction Model

The author has identified the following significant results. LANDSAT, aircraft, ships, and air-dropped current drogues were deployed to determine current circulation and to track oil slick movement on four different dates in Delaware Bay. Results were used to verify a predictive model for oil slick movement and dispersion. The model predicts the behavior of oil slicks given their size, location, tidal stage (current), weather (wind), and nature of crude. Both LANDSAT satellites provided valuable data on gross circulation patterns and convergent coastal fronts which by capturing oil slicks significantly influence their movement and dispersion.

Klemas, V.↗

Closing the Contrast Gap Between Testbed and Model Prediction with WFIRST-CGI Shaped Pupil Coronagraph

JPL has recently passed an important milestone in its technology development for a proposed NASA WFIRST mission: demonstration of a better than 1x10-8 contrast over broad bandwidth (10%) on both shaped pupil coronagraph (SPC) and hybrid Lyot coronagraph (HLC) testbeds with WFIRST telescope optics. Challenges remain, however, in the technology readiness for the proposed mission. One such is the discrepancy between the achieved contrast on testbeds and their corresponding model predictions. A series of testbed diagnosis and modeling activity were planned and (some) carried out on SPC testbed in order to close the gap. A very useful tool we developed was to analyze the measured testbed Jacobian and compare with its model version that was used to control image plane speckle pattern. The difference between these two is the error in the control Jacobian. When the error, which includes both amplitude and phase, was inserted into a separate prediction model with nominal Jacobian, the model prediction became closely matching the SPC testbed behavior in both contrast floor and contrast convergence speed. This offers a new perspective and is a step closer toward model validation for high contrast coronagraph. Further Jacobian analysis and modeling provided clues to the possible sources for the mismatch: the DM misregistration and the underrepresented testbed optics wavefront error (WFE) and the deformable mirror (DM) setting for correcting this WFE. These analyses suggested that high contrast coronagraph has a tight tolerance in the accuracy of its control Jacobian. Modifications to both testbed control model as well as prediction model are being implemented and future works discussed.

diffraction modeling↗

Freeze Prediction Model

Measurements of wind speed, net irradiation, and of air, soil, and dew point temperatures in an orchard at the Rock Springs Agricultural Research Center, as well as topographical and climatological data and a description of the major apple growing regions of Pennsylvania were supplied to the University of Florida for use in running the P-model, freeze prediction program. Results show that the P-model appears to have considerable applicability to conditions in Pennsylvania. Even though modifications may have to be made for use in the fruit growing regions, there are advantages for fruit growers with the model in its present form.

Morrow, C. T.↗

Rate-Based Model Predictive Control of Turbofan Engine Clearance

An innovative model predictive control strategy is developed for control of nonlinear aircraft propulsion systems and sub-systems. At the heart of the controller is a rate-based linear parameter-varying model that propagates the state derivatives across the prediction horizon, extending prediction fidelity to transient regimes where conventional models begin to lose validity. The new control law is applied to a demanding active clearance control application, where the objectives are to tightly regulate blade tip clearances and also anticipate and avoid detrimental blade-shroud rub occurrences by optimally maintaining a predefined minimum clearance. Simulation results verify that the rate-based controller is capable of satisfying the objectives during realistic flight scenarios where both a conventional Jacobian-based model predictive control law and an unconstrained linear-quadratic optimal controller are incapable of doing so. The controller is evaluated using a variety of different actuators, illustrating the efficacy and versatility of the control approach. It is concluded that the new strategy has promise for this and other nonlinear aerospace applications that place high importance on the attainment of control objectives during transient regimes.

DeCastro, Jonathan A.↗

Empirical testing of an analytical model predicting electrical isolation of photovoltaic models

A major design requirement for photovoltaic modules is that the encapsulation system be capable of withstanding large DC potentials without electrical breakdown. Presented is a simple analytical model which can be used to estimate material thickness to meet this requirement for a candidate encapsulation system or to predict the breakdown voltage of an existing module design. A series of electrical tests to verify the model are described in detail. The results of these verification tests confirmed the utility of the analytical model for preliminary design of photovoltaic modules.

Garcia, A., III↗

The Effect of Nondeterministic Parameters on Shock-Associated Noise Prediction Modeling

Engineering applications for aircraft noise prediction contain models for physical phenomenon that enable solutions to be computed quickly. These models contain parameters that have an uncertainty not accounted for in the solution. To include uncertainty in the solution, nondeterministic computational methods are applied. Using prediction models for supersonic jet broadband shock-associated noise, fixed model parameters are replaced by probability distributions to illustrate one of these methods. The results show the impact of using nondeterministic parameters both on estimating the model output uncertainty and on the model spectral level prediction. In addition, a global sensitivity analysis is used to determine the influence of the model parameters on the output, and to identify the parameters with the least influence on model output.

Dahl, Milo D.↗

A neural-network-enhanced parameter-varying framework for multi-objective model predictive control applied to buildings

Management of the electrical grid is becoming more complex due to the increased penetration of alternative energy generation technologies and a broadening diversity of electric loads. This complexity creates challenges in balancing demand and generation that can increase the potential for grid instabilities. One effective way to address this issue is to leverage previously unexploited demand flexibility through advanced control strategies. In this work, we propose an advanced control method, called adaptive neural parameter-varying model predictive control (ANPV-MPC), to control the temperature and energy consumption of a building via its Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning system. ANPV-MPC combines key ideas in parameter-varying control, adaptive control, and online learning strategies to bridge the gap between computationally efficient linear model predictive control and more accurate nonlinear model predictive control. The novelty in ANPV-MPC is the use of a physics-inspired Bayesian neural network to estimate the coefficients of the parameter-varying linear control model. The Bayesian neural network additionally provides uncertainty estimates, triggering online training to capture evolving building system conditions. We show that ANPV-MPC can approximate the building system dynamics with a 28.39% higher accuracy than traditional linear model predictive control, resulting in 36.23% better control performance without increasing complexity of the optimal control problem. ANPV-MPC also adapts in real time to previously unseen conditions using online learning, further improving its performance.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

Model Predictive Control of Dual-Mode Energy-Stored Quasi-Z-Source Photovoltaic System

The energy-stored quasi-Z-source inverter (ES-qZSI) has attracted much attention for photovoltaic (PV) power generations, due to its capability to stabilize the PV power fluctuations and other advantages of Z-source inverter. Traditional ES-qZSI suffers from poor operation at night or cloudy days when PV power is extremely low. In order to overcome that, this paper proposes a model predictive control (MPC) strategy for an improved dual-mode ES-qZSI, which is designed to support all-weather operation of PV power generation system. The system predictive models in both day and night operating modes are derived. And the control strategy based on MPC is disclosed to ensure the high-performance operation of the system. Simulation is carried out on PV power fluctuation in daytime and switching between the two modes, to verify the effectiveness of proposed control strategy.

Xue, Yaosuo↗

Comparison of Prediction Modeling Methodologies for Aeroacoustic Characterization of Hovering sUAS Rotors

This work compared artificial neural network and multivariate orthogonal function modeling methodologies for the prediction and characterization of isolated hovering sUAS rotor aerodynamics and aeroacoustics. Design of Experiments was used to create input feature spaces over 9 input features: the number of rotor blades, rotor size, rotor speed, the amount of blade twist, blade taper ratio, tip chord length, collective pitch, airfoil camber, and airfoil thickness. CAMRAD~II and AARON were executed at the points defined by the input feature space to predict aerodynamic and aeroacoustic quantities. These predicted aerodynamic and aeroacoustic data were then used to generate artificial neural networks and polynomial response surface models. The two prediction model methodologies were evaluated over test data previously unseen by the models, which showed good prediction capabilities for both model types, with slightly lower prediction error for the artificial neural networks. A characterization study was performed, which showed that input features correspondent to the spanwise sectional blade lift and drag were the most significant factors to the aerodynamic thrust and power, respectively. It was also shown that the aeroacoustic quantities were highly dependent on variations in rotor speed and size, which affect the Doppler factor for tonal noise and the spanwise Reynolds number for broadband noise.

Christopher S Thurman↗

Building a Real-Time Flood Prediction Model for Improving Early Warning Systems in Ellicott City, Maryland

As flood events in the United States grow in frequency and intensity, the use of applied remote sensing analyses is increasingly necessary for effective flood monitoring and warning systems. The NASA DEVELOP National Program partnered with the local government of Howard County, Maryland, to investigate the use of machine learning for advanced flood risk detection, and to test the feasibility of integrating this approach into the county’s flood early warning system. To strengthen the efforts of the Howard County Office of Emergency Management (OEM), the project developed a statistical model capable of hindcasting the two severe flash flood events that devastated Ellicott City and transitioned to a ‘Long Short-Term Memory’ based sequence-to-sequence deep learning model with 8-hour forecast capability. The team combined data inputs from public sources including river and precipitation gauges, NASA and NOAA Earth observations, and numerical weather model products using scripts written in the Google Colaboratory Python scripting environment. In addition to designing the deep learning architecture, the team trained and tested the model, and evaluated its performance using Nash-Sutcliffe Efficiency. The final product, the Sequentially Trained Real-time EstimAted Model (STREAM) predicts stage height for the Hudson Branch gauge in Ellicott City using data products available in near real-time, including the High-Resolution Rapid Refresh model’s accumulated precipitation forecasts supplemented by stream gauge data from the OEM and the U.S. Geological Survey. STREAM was incorporated into an online dashboard in a user-friendly interface capable of triggering the alarms that initiate emergency response protocols up to 8 hours in advance of a predicted severe flood event. The project demonstrated the potential for the integration of open data and Earth observations into a flood risk forecasting tool capable of informing near real-time decision making.

NASA DEVELOP↗

Development of a prediction model for radiotherapy response among patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma based on the tumor immune microenvironment and hypoxia signature

Abstract Introduction The immune system and hypoxia are major factors influencing radiosensitivity in patients with different cancer types. This study aimed at developing a model to predict radiotherapy response in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) based on the tumor immune microenvironment and hypoxia signature. Materials and Methods We first evaluated the hypoxia status and tumor immune microenvironment in the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) cohort by using transcriptomic data. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between the “high immunity and low hypoxia” and “low immunity and high hypoxia” groups and those DEGs significantly associated with disease‐specific survival in the univariate Cox regression analysis were selected as the prognostic DEGs. We selected the immune hypoxia–related genes (IHRGs) by intersecting prognostic DEGs with immune and hypoxia gene sets. We used the IHRGs to train a multivariate Cox regression model in the TCGA cohort, based on which we calculated the IHRG prognostic index (IHRGPI) for each patient and validated its efficacy in predicting radiotherapy response in the Gene Expression Omnibus cohorts. Furthermore, we explored potential mechanisms and effective combinational treatment strategies for different IHRGPI groups. Results Five IHRGs were used to construct the IHRGPI, which was used to dichotomize the cohorts. The patients with lower IHRGPI showed a better radiotherapy response across different cohorts and endpoints, including overall survival, progression‐free survival, and recurrence‐free survival ( p < 0.05). Patients with higher IHRGPI showed greater hypoxia and lesser immune cell infiltration. A lower IHRGPI indicated a better immunotherapy response, while a higher IHRGPI indicated a better chemotherapy response. Conclusions IHRGPI is promising for predicting radiotherapy response and guiding combinational treatment strategies in patients with HNSCC.

Zhu, Guang‐Li↗

The Prediction Model of Risk Factors for COVID-19 Developing into Severe Illness Based on 1046 Patients with COVID-19

This study analyzed the risk factors for patients with COVID-19 developing severe illnesses and explored the value of applying the logistic model combined with ROC curve analysis to predict the risk of severe illnesses at COVID-19 patients’ admissions. The clinical data of 1046 COVID-19 patients admitted to a designated hospital in a certain city from July to September 2020 were retrospectively analyzed, the clinical characteristics of the patients were collected, and a multivariate unconditional logistic regression analysis was used to determine the risk factors for severe illnesses in COVID-19 patients during hospitalization. Based on the analysis results, a prediction model for severe conditions and the ROC curve were constructed, and the predictive value of the model was assessed. Logistic regression analysis showed that age (OR = 3.257, 95% CI 10.466–18.584), complications with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (OR = 7.337, 95% CI 0.227–87.021), cough (OR = 5517, 95% CI 0.258–65.024), and venous thrombosis (OR = 7322, 95% CI 0.278–95.020) were risk factors for COVID-19 patients developing severe conditions during hospitalization. When complications were not taken into consideration, COVID-19 patients’ ages, number of diseases, and underlying diseases were risk factors influencing the development of severe illnesses. The ROC curve analysis results showed that the AUC that predicted the severity of COVID-19 patients at admission was 0.943, the optimal threshold was −3.24, and the specificity was 0.824, while the sensitivity was 0.827. The changes in the condition of severe COVID-19 patients are related to many factors such as age, clinical symptoms, and underlying diseases. This study has a certain value in predicting COVID-19 patients that develop from mild to severe conditions, and this prediction model is a useful tool in the quick prediction of the changes in patients’ conditions and providing early intervention for those with risk factors.

Lian, Zhichuang↗

Field demonstration and implementation analysis of model predictive control in an office HVAC system

Model Predictive Control (MPC) is a promising technique to address growing needs for heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems to operate more efficiently and with greater flexibility. However, due to a number of factors, including the required implementation expertise, lack of high quality data, and a risk-adverse industry, MPC has yet to gain widespread adoption. While many previous studies have shown the advantages of MPC, few analyzed the implementation effort and associated practical challenges. In addition, previous work has developed an open-source, Modelica-based tool-chain that automatically generates optimal control, parameter estimation, and state estimation problems aimed at facilitating MPC implementation. Therefore, this study demonstrates usage of this tool-chain to implement MPC in a real office building, discusses practical challenges of implementing MPC, and estimates the implementation effort associated with various tasks in order to inform the development of future workflows and serve as an initial benchmark for their impact on reducing implementation effort. This study finds that the implemented MPC saves approximately 40% of HVAC energy over the existing control during a two-month trial period and that tasks related to data collection and controller deployment activities can each require as much effort as model generation.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

Subseasonal Forecasting and MJO Teleconnections in Machine Learning Weather Prediction Models

Abstract In recent years, machine‐learning (ML) models trained on reanalysis data have rivaled physics‐based forecast models in terms of performance skill for global weather forecasting. With increased rollout stability, the question of how these models perform for subseasonal to seasonal (S2S, week 3–8) forecasting has emerged. In this study we run a large set of subseasonal hindcasts over 2004–2023 to evaluate two ML weather forecast models at the S2S time scale, SFNO‐HENS (Nvidia, fully ML) and NeuralGCM (Google Research, hybrid). Corresponding hindcasts from the European Centre for Medium‐Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) are used as a baseline for comparison to a physics‐based model. Because our focus is on predicting moisture transport over the Western United States between October and March, we evaluate the models' prediction skill for the Madden‐Julian Oscillation (MJO) and its associated teleconnections in the North Pacific. We find that both ML models are competitive with the ECWMF model, with comparable skill in predicting the North Pacific large‐scale circulation and the MJO at week 3 and beyond. Even though overall the mid‐latitude subseasonal prediction skill remains low, the ML models exhibit interesting behavior such as a realistic propagation of the MJO across the Maritime Continent and realistic teleconnections. A SFNO‐HENS sensitivity experiment with altered initial conditions in the tropics demonstrates the stability of the model, and it illustrates the capability of ML models to represent important physical processes of the atmosphere at the S2S time scale. Plain Language Summary Predicting weather patterns and precipitation a few weeks in advance (subseasonal time scale) is of great interest for stakeholders such as water managers in the Southwest United States (US), where arid conditions prevail. Subseasonal forecasts from traditional weather forecast models exhibit low skill in the region, limiting their applicability. Here we examine whether the recent breakthrough in weather forecasting made with machine learning/artificial intelligence models can translate to improved subseasonal forecasts. Recently‐developed machine learning models exhibit comparable skill to a state‐of‐the‐art physics‐based model for predicting weather patterns in the North Pacific/North America region, and associated moisture transport. The same applies to their skill in predicting the tropical pattern, the Madden‐Julian Oscillation, and its important remote perturbations over the midlatitude East Pacific and Southwest US. Additionally, a perturbation experiment carried out with one of the machine learning models illustrates their ability to not only predict the evolution of atmospheric fields, but also to learn and represent physical processes such as tropics‐extratropics Rossby wave propagation. Key Points Two machine learning weather forecast models exhibit state‐of‐the‐art prediction skill at the subseasonal time scale in the Pacific sector The models equal ECWMF in terms of Madden‐Julian oscillation (MJO) prediction skill, and they accurately predict the MJO propagation and associated teleconnections The two machine‐learning models represent key physical processes for subseasonal prediction, despite being trained for weather forecasting

Peings, Yannick↗

Predictive Modeling of Cardiac Ischemia

The goal of the Contextual Alarms Management System (CALMS) project is to develop sophisticated models to predict the onset of clinical cardiac ischemia before it occurs. The system will continuously monitor cardiac patients and set off an alarm when they appear about to suffer an ischemic episode. The models take as inputs information from patient history and combine it with continuously updated information extracted from blood pressure, oxygen saturation and ECG lines. Expert system, statistical, neural network and rough set methodologies are then used to forecast the onset of clinical ischemia before it transpires, thus allowing early intervention aimed at preventing morbid complications from occurring. The models will differ from previous attempts by including combinations of continuous and discrete inputs. A commercial medical instrumentation and software company has invested funds in the project with a goal of commercialization of the technology. The end product will be a system that analyzes physiologic parameters and produces an alarm when myocardial ischemia is present. If proven feasible, a CALMS-based system will be added to existing heart monitoring hardware.

Anderson, Gary T.↗